Africa Great Lakes Democracy Watch

Welcome toAfrica Great Lakes Democracy Watch Blog.Our objective is to promote the institutions of democracy,social justice,Human Rights,Peace, Freedom ofExpression, and Respect to humanity in Rwanda,Uganda,DR Congo, Burundi,Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya,Ethiopia, and Somalia. We strongly believe that Africa will develop if only our presidents stop being rulers of men and become leaders of citizens. We support Breaking the Silence Campaign for DR Congo since we believe the democracy in Rwanda means peace inDRC. Follow this link to learn more about the origin of the war in both Rwanda and DR Congo:http://www.rwandadocumentsproject.net/gsdl/cgi-bin/library

Friday, September 21, 2012

Johannesburg – Saturday the
25th August, I had a conversation with RNC Youth Leader for Joburg Branch
in South Africa.
The will and courage to tell it like it is, is what drives this ambitious young
man, Nsengimana Daniel. The discussion
started on a lighter note but as we progressed, the heat was on. The following
are thoughts and suggestions from what he shared with us.

“If you go through the
history of Rwanda, youth
have always been used by selfish leaders for their own benefits and that’s
exactly what’s happening in the North Kivu”. Said
Nsengimana Daniel.

“The strength of our
nation (which is the youth) is wasted in Congo, in wars that they too don’t
understand the root-causes”. He Added.

When asked how he feels about
the recent developments in Rwanda
regarding young men arrested over allegations of misconducts and various
charges, he told us that “those young
men are being harassed. Those involved in capturing them, fabricates false charges
so that they can carry on with their militias activities. Those young men are
treated like a herd of cattle. You just drag them left and right and they follow you".

He goes further to advice
them that “ Rwandan youth are the ones to take up the first step in fighting
for their rights and the sovereignty of their country”. Here, he gave us an
example of how the two governments starting with the ousted one and the current
government, the two government have always involved the youth in wrong doings.

“during the Gen
Habyarimana reign, youth were used to do bad things. The same mentality migrated
to the current regime where we see, president Paul Kagame also use the youth to
do more harm than good. So the youth need to be aware of all these things and rise
up. The time is now”.

“ for example when there
is instability, they call upon the youth to intervene. But when
all is well, they forget them. So here we need to think twice and asks
ourselves whether we are their tools to be used around or part of the solution”.

He also stressed on the
issue of the recent attempt assassination to end the life of his fellow comrade and chairman
of RNC in Africa region, Frank Ntwali, by saying that “ it is a shameful act and we
condemn it very strongly. We are aware that our lives are in danger, but yet
again we know that we won’t live forever. So we will continue to voice against
the bad regime however we can”.

Asked his opinion regarding
the current regime, he stressed out that “the regime is in its last stage. They
will do whatever they can to empty coffers of the people. Here I can give you
so many examples of funds they established for the sole purpose of enriching
themselves; 1 Agaciro Development Fund 2. Mutual Fund, 3. Education
Fund, 4. FARG all these are mind-game type of businesses that are meant to
bankrupt ordinary citizen.

He concluded by saying
that “as youth, especial those still living in Rwanda, there is need to free
themselves and start being vocal. There is a need for us as youth to break those
chains and free ourselves from the oppressor, using whatever means we have at
our disposal”.